The first new turf racecourse opening for 70 years took place last week when Ffos Las held their first meeting viewed by a sell-out crowd of 10,000 racing fans.

The Welsh course, a project pursued by Welsh Business man Dai Walters that has taken five years to complete received rave reviews from trainers, jockey’s and owners.

Champion jump jockey Tony McCoy added his praise to the track saying : “ It’s superbly designed and a true galloping circuit.”

The winner of the first race on the course was Plunkett, trained appropriately by Evan Williams who trains a few miles from the course at Llancarfan.

Former Bayden trainer Taffy Salaman, now plying his trade at Lambourn, had the distinction of saddling the first faller of the meeting when Venir Rouge fell in the second race on the card when moving up to challenge the leaders.

However the five year old made up for his blunder by winning the Apprentice Handicap at Newbury on Tuesday evening.

A popular figure in the Swindon area the trainer is not short of followers and the winner was backed down from 12/1 to 7/2 favourite and duly won by one and a half lengths ridden by Michael Geran.

Salaman commented after the race : “ The boy done a great job on his first ride for me, Venir Rouge came out of the fall without a scratch and the young jockey did well bringing him to the outside for his challenge.”

Highlight of this weekends racing is at Newcastle on Saturday where a huge crowd is expected for the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate, known as the Pitmen’s Derby and worth £180,000 in prize money.

Likely to start favourite is the recent Royal Ascot winner Judgethemoment, trained by Jane Chapple- Hyam, who bids for his fourth consecutive victory.

The trainer was reported as saying that her charge came out of the Ascot race fantastic and it’s all systems go for a tilt at Europe’s richest staying handicap.

Arc Bleu, trained by Tony Martin in Ireland and set to be ridden by Jamie Spencer has also been attracting plenty of support together with the Henry Cecil trained Ajaan.

Top weight will be carried by the Godolphin challenger Friston Forest who is not without a chance but the columns selection is the Michael Jarvis trained Meshtri who finished third in the Queens Prize at Kempton in March, his first run of the season.

It would look to be a busy weekend for racing fans with Channel 4 cameras at Newmarket to screen the Listed Sunley Empress Stakes that could go to the John Dunlop trained Mudaaraah, the Listed Fred Archer Stakes where All The Aces would appear to have a good chance and the Group 3 Criterion Stakes where Winker Watson could run well for former Manton trainer Peter Chapple – Hyam.

Windsor stages a six race card getting underway at 2.30 with a two year old Maiden Stakes that could be won by Wiltshire trainer Richard Hannon with Bridge Valley.

Feature race on the card is the Listed Midsummer Stakes where local jockey George Baker would look to have a good chance on board Premio Loco.

Chester completes the afternoon action where the best bet could be Mooleeah in the second race on the card.

Evening meetings are scheduled for Lingfield and Doncaster while on Sunday Salisbury hosts an attractive looking seven race card beginning at 2.00 pm.